Blackbird 4K 1x2 HDMI Splitter

In a technology driven world high definition content has become the standard. If you need to simultaneously view HD content on multiple displays, you need a way to split the signal between the displays. Normally a source is connected directly to a display, but that will not work if you need to push the signal to more than one display.

These splitters are powered so besides splitting the signal, they can also be used at the end of a cable to regenerate and essentially boost the HDMI® signal. Whether your need is at home, at school, in a retail store, or in a corporate office, these plug-n-play splitters are the perfect portable solution to view HD content on multiple displays at the same time.

Features:

Splits one HDMI 1.4 signal to two HDMI displays at the same time

3D content support - this splitter can automatically detect the EDID and output 3D content

Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) Support - if supported by the source and display, users can control all devices with one remote

Plug-n-Play technology - There is no configuration for these units; just plug them in and you are ready to go

Small and portable - the splitters are small enough to travel with and light enough to be mounted in permanent locations

Questions and Answers

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I want to split the signal from an Xfinity Cable Box to 2 TVs. One TV is 1080p and and the other TV is 720p. How does this splitter handle the resolution difference ? Will it default to the lowest resolution and display 720p on the higher resolution TV as well?

Can i use this hdmi splitter to do this backwards? For instance, I have a classroom with a projector that has one hdmi input. Can I use this so I can keep my DVD player and Apple TV hooked up and not have to keep switching the HDMI cords?

BEST ANSWER:No - This will not work for that operation. This allows a single input to be split between two output devices. It works great for this application. However, I purchased Monoprice's 5x1 Enhanced HDMI® Switch with Built-In Equalizer & Remote Control to do what you're looking at doing. This will allow up to five inputs to be selected to provide output to a single monitor. This one works great for $29.19. They have other models that switch fewer devices for as little as $11.99. Hope this Helps.

BEST ANSWER:No - This will not work for that operation. This allows a single input to be split between two output devices. It works great for this application. However, I purchased Monoprice's 5x1 Enhanced HDMI® Switch with Built-In Equalizer & Remote Control to do what you're looking at doing. This will allow up to five inputs to be selected to provide output to a single monitor. This one works great for $29.19. They have other models that switch fewer devices for as little as $11.99. Hope this Helps.

Reviews

I have given this product 5 stars because it does exactly what I need it to do, and the limitations are not a problem for me, BUT please read carefully to make sure it will meet your needs. First, let me say that it does a great job of splitting, and the image on my secondary TV is great. For picture, no problem whatsoever. Now the 2 drawbacks: 1. with the splitter, the HDMI connection is no longer bidirectional. I used to be able to change the input on my TV and my tuner would automatically switch, but with the splitter in the mix, it no longer does. Not a big deal, but it may annoy some. 2. for some reason, the 2nd TV does not have sound. I'm not sure where the sound signal is getting lost, but it does not make it to my 2nd TV. Also not a problem for me (as the room already has a tuner and plenty of sound), but just be aware that this can happen in some circumstances. It works great for what I need, but be aware of the potential limitations.

PROS: Easy to setup and use Great picture sent to both devices

CONS: Causes HDMI connection to be unidirectional Sound may not carry to second device in some circumstances

The good thing about this device is that it works! However, if one device is not turned on at the same time you will receive snow on the viewed device until the complete connection. Please note that this will continue until they are fully synced. No real issue but that should be remedied.

My setup consists of several devices going into a surround receiver, then video goes out to either a TV or Projector and sound to my speakers. I've had to manually swap the lone HDMI out on the receiver whenever I switched between TV and projector. My goal was to find an HDMI splitter that can seamlessly pass a signal to both through a 35' HDMI run to the projector and a 15' run to the TV. This one does it and to my surprise, both can run simultaneously.

There are a lot of HDMI splitter products to choose from but this one seemed to be as good as any. I can't speak to bidirectional or audio functionality, as I use neither in my setup but for what I need it to do, it works great.

In my book, if I don't even realize it's there, it's doing its job. Within a day after installing, I forgot I even had this device handling my video.

PROS: Produces a clean signal across a 15' HDMI + 35' HDMI run Super compact - it's about the size of a deck of cards Low power consumption - can run all the time with essentially no impact on my electricity bill

CONS: When initially handshaking with my TV or projector, there is a quick flash of static on the screen but it doesn't bother me.

I have it connected from the PS4 to the splitter, then from there it goes to the surround sound and TV

If the surround sound is turned on before the TV, the audio doesn't work and I have to turn off and back on the surround sound to get it working. Was previously using a older monoprice hdmi splitter from 4 years ago that didn't have this issue. Not detrimental, but definitely annoying especially if others don't know what to do.

It might work perfectly if I was going to 2 TVs. I don't have 4k to test that part, but hopefully it works. Haven't tested how it affects input lag, but it seems at least as good as my previous one I swapped it out for.

I've had two of these splitters for a little over 2 weeks now, have not had any problems at all. Currently using to split and HTPC and an XBox One between the living room and workout room. Picture and response times have been great in both rooms.

A few days ago, I reviewed with a 4 star rating (hasn't appeared yet), saying it works, but with quirks. However, upon experimentation switching it out from a previous Monoprice 8402 (that worked fine for years) on a different 2 TV setup, there are no "quirks". Apparently, there is something inherent with the output from a DirecTV Genie client box that showed some quirks when switching channels on two Insignia TV's. The above mentioned Monoprice 8402 shows the same quirks on this setup. Nothing wrong with either splitter. Never had a problem with a Monoprice product.

PROS: Works great. Now, when I eventually switch to 4K TV's, I'll have a splitter than can handle it.

I got this hoping it would do what I wanted. So if we were watching something and wanted to go to the table in the kitchen to have a meal ( just two of us retired old people so don't have to talk during meals. We can do that all day!) we can continue our show on the little TV that doesn't have anything but basic cable. Now I don't have to miss shows when I'm fixing a meal either. It was easy, easy to install and works perfectly. We love it.

Bought this product to send one of the outputs through a home theater amp - did not work. Found out via live-chat with product support that NO HDMI splitter will work when directing one of the outputs to anything other than a display device. Buyer Beware, know your intended use. Low rating is because of the lack of information on what outputs would be supported.

PROS: Nice and compact, easy to set up.

CONS: Information was lacking to indicate this product (or any similar product) could not be used when an output was being directed to a home theater amp. Was suggested by product support that this was 'common knowledge'.

I bought this Blackbird splitter after asking a Monoprice tech online. He said it "might" work for the application I was considering - splitting the HDMI output of a DirecTV sat box and sending one signal directly to a 4K TV, and the other to an AV receiver. (I use the TV's internal speakers for routine watching and the AV receiver for movies - the split HDMI is so I can see the receiver's settings on the TV screen. Otherwise, sending the audio to the AV receiver via TOSlink would normally be enough.)

In my particular application, the 4K TV didn't like the setup. To be fair, the Monoprice tech thought there was a chance it might not work either, so while disappointed I know this product really wasn't to blame. I returned it for a full refund.

I'm sorry to hear that, please feel free to contact us at tech@monoprice.com with a detailed summary of the issue you are experiencing and our knowledgeable Technical Support staff would be more than happy to assist. Thank you

February 28, 2017

Jeff MStaff

Tremendously Simple

Just as simple as plugging in the HDMI cables and turning the power on. Using it to send 1 cable box output to 2 TV's. Haven't seen any issues.

I've had the 8204 model that worked for years, but it developed some quirks....between channel changes my TV would display "No Signal", and sometimes the audio wouldn't transfer. I had to change to another channel and back again to get audio on the desired channel. Otherwise it still "worked". I chose this Blackbird model to replace it, but it, too, has some quirks....between channel changes would lag and sometimes show "snow" or flashes of green on the screen. Also sometimes has the audio issue mentioned above. But, it "works". My source is a DirecTV genie client box. I tried bypassing the splitter and fed the HDMI directly to one of the TVs, and no channel lag or audio issues, so the splitter is affecting it.

But, both of them "work", with these quirks. I have another 8204 on two other TVs, with no quirks. Anyway, maybe it has something with these two TV setups. For $20, gonna keep it maybe for use in some future application. It does support 4K.

I am using this to split a signal from my Directv receiver to 2 TV's. At first I had to jockey around the HDMI cables to get a good connection. I just threw 3 random 3', 6', and 25' HDMI cables together with the splitter and it works fine. Does its intended purpose well, and its really small.

Just installed about 3 days ago with a 5x1 splitter in front of it, everything works fine so far as it connects a 65 & 75 inch Sansung TVs. Great price, it is very compact so I velcroed it out of sight. Time will tell if it stands up to the test of time but at this point it seems like a good investment.

Does exactly what I needed. Splits HDMI signal in order to feed 2 tv's. I ran a 50 ft cable from an upstairs bedroom to a downstairs kitchen tv. Great signal in both locs...no issues with sound or pic. And only $22....awesome.

I use this splitter to send the same signal from my man-cave to an outside TV. It works great, but I notice when I change channels with my RF remote from the outside, it will take 20-30 seconds to fully accommodate any changes in resolution. Minor point, since I generally only watch the same channel outside now during baseball season. But with football and hockey ready to start, channel flipping will become much more commonplace.

Works fine. Only been using it for a few days, but so far it's doing what I bought it for. Plug and play. Like all of the various brands of these I've had, there is some negotiation when you first turn on a TV, or especially when you turn on the second TV. Both go blank for a while, then everything tunes in fine. I've had similar devices go out after some period of time. Usually a year or two. Not sure why they can't be built to last. We'll see how long this one lasts. My setup might be interesting for some: I've got this thing plugged into a Mac Mini media server. One output drives a Sony TV near the computer, the other output goes to one of these: an Etekcity HDMI Extender over Single 50m/164ft Cat5e/Cat6 Ethernet Cable. That drives a second Sony TV, through a singe 75' Ethernet Cable run in my attic, a few rooms away. Both TVs look great, though I run at 720, not full HD, so I can't speak to how either device perfumes at 1080. Point is, this splitter and the extender solve my HD need, in two rooms quite a bit apart from each other.

Only reason not a 5 star rating is because I don't usually give a 5 star unless I have a lot of interaction with a product and as a result I actually have a high-level understanding concerning how it operates. In this case, after I hooked up cables and power, .... no need to interact with the product. It does exactly what it is supposed to do without additional work.

I use this splitter along with an remote RF/IR extender to enable using one cable box on 2 TVs in different rooms. This splitter works great but has a problem, as described below.

If the cable box is in in Room A with its own smart flat screen TV ( I have a Panasonic smart plasma TV in Room A and a Samsung 4K LED in room B), when the cable box is turned on from room B using an extra cable box remote, the cable box in Room A gets turned on, the TV in room B gets to see and view cable channels. So this is well and good. The problem is when I turns on the cable box from Room B, the smart TV in room A also gets to know that the cable box is on via the splitter, and it turns on also. If the input select of the TV in Room A is already set to use the cable HDMI input, then its screen light up and will display with sound whatever channel is being selected from Room B. If the input select of the TV in Room A is set to use something NOT cable, for example, Blu-ray, then the cable box will display a bright message from the cable provider instructing whoever is in Room A to either turn on the TV and select cable HDMI as the input OR turn off the cable box.

As I see it, since the problem is to prevent the splitter from sending the HDMI signal to the TV that is turned off, may I suggest that the splitter firmware be modified to first check if the TV is on before sending HDMI cable signal to it, or sending signal only to the TV if it is turned on.

I realize that the above mod might not be possible if the smart TV software is designed to automatically turn on if any signal comes in from any HDMI inputs (as both my Panasonic and Samsung did) , so that even a TV on/off status active probe signal from the splitter turns on a turned off smart TV, but may be it is worth as try. But how about a passive read of the TV status from its HDMI input?

The one workaround I am using to address the above problem is to physically unplug the TV in room A prior to using the TV in Room. This is "hard work"!